On Thu, 9 Nov 1995, Ken Bertschy wrote:
> Merely blowing across the bucket will increase aeration not decrease it. I
> suspect that since you have to move the match VERY quickly into the gas,
> the match blows out and before actually contacting the gas.
>
I think in this case that's erroneous. What ignites is a fuel/air
mixture (that's what carburators are for). By blowing across the
bucket you've decreased the fuel portion to a less than igniteable
mixture. The match is dropped in at this point and would be quenched
by the "liquid" gasoline. I saw Mr. Wizard (remember him?) do
something similar with a beaker of gasoline and an electric sparking
device that he emersed in the gas. The gas didn't ignite until the
spark was raised abouve the level of the fuel where the mix of fuel
and air was correct to allow combustion.
Of course, if I'm wrong I'll hear about it... won't I?
Greg (Dammit Jim, I'm an artist not a scientist) Petrolati
gpetrola@prairienet.org 1962 TR4 (CT4852L)
"That's not a leak... My car is just marking its territory!"
Greg Petrolati, Champaign, Illinois
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